Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Since I havent found any picts of the L400 Timing chain, I thought I would post picts of my lwb royal exceed getting its timing chain replaced, as you can see its ALOT larger and beefier than the small timing belt in the L300 that is prone to failure. I will try to get all the picts in the proper order. The work was done by Mitsubishi Fuso in Japan, Its not a job that 95% of people would be able to do them selves as there is aparantly a couple of Special tools needed for it, and as you can see its a serious job

I prefer the one piece chain as opposed to the split chain shown here, less chance of failure, but it did require the removal of everything in front -grill, rad, condensor,water pump,etc.. but I did not need any special tools, I am however a diesel mechanic. If your chain guide and tensioner don't need changing, the split chain as shown can be installed without removing all the other stuff, and could be changed your self if you are a competent backyard mechanic. There are some excellent illustrated step by step posts of this on the UK site. Check these out and you will know if it is something you are capable of or not.

Jason

You can get the cover off without removing the rad.

how many kms recommended for t-chain swap?

There is no recommended interval.

My timing chain is making the typical 'chuff chuff' sound so it will have to be replaced.

I will post pictures and a sound file so you guys can hear what it sounds like when you're timing chain is rubbing against the guide.

Mitsubishi did a factory recall on all 2.8 Pajero/L200/Spacegears manufactured in 1994 of the timing chain.

They released a revised version in 1995 which is the current one you can buy.

Most Spacegears coming here would have had the timing chain replaced.

It's good to know that there is a very distinct audible alert to let you know when it's getting worn.

Some 2.8's go to 3-400,000+ without a chain replacement.

You only need to replace it if you hear he chuff chuff sound.

Sounds like a steam choo choo train. Gets louder under load like going up a hill.

well I have to saysomething about the train sound, if you dont end up with a sound byte,
the L400 have a tensioner and a tensioner might need to be adjusted or replaced,before saying timing chain is streached to the point it could break or need to be replaced

, but also a larger exhaust will/can make your diesel sound like a train. My first l400 had on Much larger stainless exhaust and sounded like a cross between a bigrig and a tank. so a sound coment/ sample via the web can be VERY interpretive and we all know how things can get interpretid wrong over the net.....

one of the reasons I posted this was to show the difference in an L400 vs L300 as one more reason its reputed around the sensible world as a reliable long term vehicle. I've seen documentation that L300s have had the timing belt and everything replaced and the belt snaped in just over a year. a properly installed Timing Chain would not normally do that for the life of the vehicle
Jessie, I liked the post you put of the egr blanking, great work, Its SOOOOO easy on the L400 , Im planing to do mine this week.

jarang, you are right that the front cover can come off without removing the rad, the problem was I could not see the timing marks clearly, (even with my mirror) so I pulled everything out of the way to make sure everything was lined up 100%. However if you use a split chain, you don't need to pull off the front cover unless your chain guide is shot also. Simply link the new chain to the old chain and feed it through. I simply don't like the split chain because of a bad experience I had on a 1989 BMW 735i, somebody had installed a split chain in it, and the joining link failed. It's possible it was poor workmanship on the install, but I just prefer to make sure that wil never happen to me again.

Jason

And it all came out.

I bought the kit from rockymountain.

Single and dual roller timing chains, tensioner w/gasket, guides, crank seal and 2 chain links.

It came with a single chain and double chain as there are two types you can have on a 2.8

The new chain length was 2 links longer than the old original chain so it had to be shortened.

The job is very long and if you are not a mechanic, do not attempt it.

The A/C compressor had to come out as the bracket bolts were in behind and they would not come out otherwise. So an A/C evac and a recharge is in order.

In hindsight, if you have a 2.8 that still has the original timing chain/tensioner on it, then those two things are really only what is needed to be replaced.

Unless you hear a grinding noise like a coffee grinder in slow motion, then the guides should be fine and all you would need to replace is the chain and tensioner.

Most people over in UK and Oz only replace the chain and tensioner as those two parts are the one's that were recalled by Mitsubishi for all 2.8's (L200/Pajero/Spacegear/heavy machinery) for manufacture dates 1994 Jan - Nov.

This needs to be done if you hear the chuff chuff sound. See here :

http://www.delica.ca/forum/2-8-timing-c ... -6579.html

May not be news to all, but I found an interesting post on the UK site:

http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopi ... c&start=15

From the pictures towards the end of the thread, it appears that the chain tension can be checked via the oil filler and/or removing the tensioner altogether.

Curious if anyone has tried this check on their beast. Mardy has had the patience of a saint on the phone with me as I have back-and-forthed with him on this topic about whether to get it done on my L400 (Thanks Mardy!) so nice to see that there more than one way to skin a cat (or check a chain).

Was considering borrowing one of those little endoscopic examination tools from Home Despot to look at the chain down in the block to look at the gap.

The guides are the same (94 - present)
The revised chain links are more rounded compared to the 94 recalled chain.
The revised tensioner is slighty longer than the old recalled tensioner.

You can check the chain and tensioner via oil filler cap and pull the tensioner out by removing the intercooler only.

The guides unfortunately can only be checked 100% with the timing cover off which is the major job in itself.

The guides are the same (94 - present)
The revised chain links are more rounded compared to the 94 recalled chain.
The revised tensioner is slighty longer than the old recalled tensioner.

you say "recalled" however when I searched for recalls on my 94 L400 the only 2 recalls were for the brakes and the fuel pump (both addressed on mine)
This leads me to suspect that there was no recall, though they have possibly updated the part since original...

jfarsang wrote:The guides are the same (94 - present)
The revised chain links are more rounded compared to the 94 recalled chain.
The revised tensioner is slighty longer than the old recalled tensioner.

You can check the chain and tensioner via oil filler cap and pull the tensioner out by removing the intercooler only.

The guides unfortunately can only be checked 100% with the timing cover off which is the major job in itself.

Jesse - Got any closeup pix of the original chain links vs. the new ones? (Showing the "roundedness" you mention) Would be useful when looking at a chain in place on a vehicle to be able to see if it is original.

Just because you can't find it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Mitsubishi changed the chain and tensioner in Nov 94 on all 2.8's. Prior Nov94 they were recalled, updated, revised, changed, called in, transmorgrified, whatever you want to call it.

All 2.8 4M40 engines prior to prod. Nov 94 have incorrect splined chains and incorrect plunger length on the tensioners from the factory.

It's quite simple.

Some may go past 300k while others may exhibit the 'sound' under 50k.

Change the chain and tensioner to the OEM 1995 one and the problem is solved.

jfarsang wrote:Just because you can't find it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Mitsubishi changed the chain and tensioner in Nov 94 on all 2.8's. Prior Nov94 they were recalled, updated, revised, changed, called in, transmorgrified, whatever you want to call it.

All 2.8 4M40 engines prior to prod. Nov 94 have incorrect splined chains and incorrect plunger length on the tensioners from the factory.

It's quite simple.

Some may go past 300k while others may exhibit the 'sound' under 50k.

Change the chain and tensioner to the OEM 1995 one and the problem is solved.

My point was that if it had been a recall, most would already be done before they got here.
as this WAS NOT a recall, the problem exists on most imported vehicles and needs to be addressed.

Mitsubishi Japan keeps track of all recalls for vehicles, you give them your VIN, they tell you what recalls affect your vehicle, and whether or not your vehicle has been covered. So either mine isn't affected by the timing chain issue, or it was never a recall.

Recall or no recall, 1,000's of 94 L400's, L200's and Pajero's in the UK and Oz have had the original timing chain and tensioner replaced.

I posted what the original chain/tensioner sounds like when it starts chaffing.

If yours does not make that sound, then go on and enjoy your 2.8
if yours makes the noise, then the original chain and tensioner probably have not been replaced.

It's really that simple.